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	Blackmailed Anglican Church Priest Wilfred Edwin Dennis Had 41 Victims" Adelaide Now August 18, 2009 http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25948371-5006301,00.html A FORMER Anglican priest told the leader of a splinter Anglican church he had molested more than 40 boys after one tried to blackmail him, a court has heard. Wilfred Edwin Dennis, 73, of Vale Park, is standing trial in the District Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, one count of gross indecency, and one count of having carnal knowledge with two altar boys between 1972 and 1977. Opening the trial, prosecutor Phil Crowe said Dennis phoned the former Archbishop of the Anglican Catholic Church of Australia, John Hepworth, after he received a letter from one of the alleged victims in June 2002. Mr Crowe said that when Archbishop Hepworth asked him if it was true Dennis replied "oh yes". "Mr Hepworth asked if there were others. He (Dennis) said he thought there were about 41," Mr Crowe said. Mr Crowe said Archbishop Hepworth then contacted police and helped to organise Dennis a lawyer. Stephen Apps, for Dennis, said the "exorbitant" letter demanded that his client give him a house to own in return for his continued silence. It is alleged that between November, 1972, and August, 1974, Dennis committed three acts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency against the boy who was aged between 10-12 at the time of the alleged offences. It is further alleged that, between 1975 and 1977, Dennis had carnal knowledge of another boy, aged between 15 and 16. It is alleged the offences were committed at the St Martin's, St Barbara's, and St John's churches while Dennis was a priest with the mainstream Anglican Church. He later left the church to become part of the Anglican Catholic Church, a breakaway group opposed to the ordination of women. Archbishop Hepworth will be called to give evidence. The trial is continuing.
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